CLIPPER ARRIVES

Hokitika Guardian, 17 September 1940, Page 3

CLIPPER ARRIVES

FIIIST TRIP. (Per Press '’Association— -Copyright). AUCKLAN D, September 10. Completing tier iirst flight from San Francisco with fare-paying passengers, IT in number, the Pan-American AirI ways’ American Clipper arrived at Auckland at a little after 3 p.m., to-day, alter a line passage from Noumea. Captain K. V. Beer, who had flown the route previously as first officer, was in command. Among the passengers were five who have made a hobby of “first flights” on trans-ocean and other air routes. Easily first of these is Mrs Clara Adams, of Long Island, New York, who has a remarkable record in air travel. . Others are Mr James McVittio, a. Chicago industrialist; Mr William Huch, a Boston businessman; and Mr H., L. Stuart, head of a large Chicago investment and banking firm. Tile- passengers described the trip as most enjoyable in every way. At the crossing of the international date-line, between Canton Island and Noumea. King Neptune, impersonated by Captain- Beer, held his court, and everybody had to submit to the usual initiation ceremony, which provided a great i deal of fun for everybody. Earlier the same day as the Clipper was passing south-east of Howland Island, Mrs Adams, as honorary ’Vice-President of the Women’s International Association of Aeronautics; cast into tile sea a large wreath of bronzed magnolia leaves in tribute to Amelia Putnam, the j American aviatrix, who was lost in that I part of' the -Pacific in, 1933 with her | co-pilot, Fred Noonan. When the American Clipper leave; Auckland on Wednesday morning for'' Noumea on the first stage of her flight to San Francisco, she will carry a number of passengers apart from some | of those who arrived to-day, and are I returning to the United States. Several | of them arrived from Sydney by the ] Tasman Empire Airways service at the I week-end.